Method and apparatus for collecting flat articles

ABSTRACT

A method for collecting addressed letters in grippers and for conveying the collected letters further in the grippers, wherein the grippers each have a first and second gripper limb, and these limbs form an accommodating space. The method includes supplying a sheet that is partially folded along a folding line to form two sheet portions that are delimited from one another by the folding line, introducing the folded sheet into the accommodating space between the gripper limbs, wherein the folded sheet is subjected to a restraining force in the direction of a planar position of the sheet by the non-folded sections along the folding line, and pushing the portions of the sheet onto the adjacent gripper limbs by the restoring force, with an accommodating pocket being formed in the accommodating space in the process, and retaining the folded sheet in the accommodating space by the contact-pressure force.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention is in the area of materials handling technology andrelates to an apparatus and a method for collecting and putting togetherflat articles to form a unit which is to be supplied for furtherprocessing.

2. Description of Related Art

Apparatuses for gathering printed products and creating dispatch stacksare known in the prior art. WO 2010/051651 and EP 2 107 023, forexample, describe an apparatus and a method for gathering printedproducts and for forwarding the gathered printed products as a stack. Tothis end, the apparatus comprises a plurality of receiving units whichare movable in a conveying direction along a closed conveying path whichis defined by a conveying member. In addition, the apparatus alsoincludes a plurality of supporting elements which, at least in agathering region of the conveying path, define a contact face which isinclined in the conveying direction and onto which the articles are ableto be deposited.

The apparatus is designed for gathering non-individualized printedproducts, such as advertising material, journals, brochures andnewspapers, which are gathered in the receiving units to formcollections. The dispatch stacks formed in this manner are thenshrink-wrapped into a plastic film and addressed for dispatch. Thecollections packed into the plastics film form addressed dispatch unitswhich are delivered to a delivery service. The address is applied on theoutside of the plastic film for this purpose.

As the gathered printed products are not individualized, it is also notimportant which specific copy from a particular type of printed productsis supplied, for example, from a store to a receiving unit. It is simplyimportant that one copy of a certain type of printed products issupplied to the receiving units.

From the area of the mail, in contrast, the processing of individualizedflat articles, such as items of mail, is known. The individualization isdistinguished in that each supplied article is provided with a recipientaddress or an address code from which the recipient address is able tobe determined. Sorting the addressed articles according to the recipientaddress and producing delivery units or dispatch stacks from theaddressed articles, such as mail, is known. Articles with the samerecipient address, in this case, are assigned in each case to a commondelivery unit. The apparatuses and methods for creating such deliveryunits, however, are frequently complex and awkward to operate.

Within the framework of mail processing, there is increasingly also therequirement to supplement the mail which is directed to a recipient withnon-individualized inserts, such as advertising inserts. This means thatthe dispatch stacks which have been gathered for the recipient are to besupplemented in addition to the mail with non-individualized inserts, inparticular advertising inserts. So that advertising inserts are alsoable to be dispatched to recipients who do not wish for unaddressedadvertising by corresponding instructions on letterboxes or in telephonebooks, it is advantageous that it is also possible to address thedispatch stack as such. To this end, the dispatch stack, however, has tobe enclosed by an addressable jacket.

DE 37 31 589 describes a method and an apparatus for sorting mail andfor combining the same in sorted form. This occurs by separating theitems of mail into singles and then depositing the singled-out mail inan intermediate conveyor. The items of mail sorted in this manner aresupplied by means of output units to collecting containers with presetdefaults. The apparatus and the associated method are, however,extremely complex.

EP 0 710 930 describes a mail processing system with mail itemauthorization which allows for the identification of the items of mail.However, the document does not describe any method for creating deliveryunits from several flat articles.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is consequently the object of the present invention to propose anapparatus and a method for collecting and putting together flat articleswhich allows several articles to be combined to form units and to besupplied to further processing, it being possible for the articles toinclude identification data, such as recipient addresses, according towhich the units are to be put together.

It is a first part object of the invention to propose an apparatus and amethod which allow several flat articles to be combined to form units,wherein the units are to be suppliable to further processing.

The apparatus and the method according to the first part object are alsoto create the possibility of conveying the units in a shingle streamwithout the division into units being lifted and the articles mergingwith one another to form a continuous product flow.

However, the forming of said units is to be managed with the smallestpossible expenditure and effort and low costs and with the smallestpossible expenditure on retrofitting for existing installations.

A second part object is to propose an apparatus and a method, by meansof which individualized articles are able to be grouped to form unitswith the same types of individualizing features and are able to befurther processed. The invention is to make it possible in particular tosupply the created units to further processing.

The achievement of the two part objects includes two invention aspectswhich in each case provide an independent invention. The first inventionaspect provides the achievement of the first part object, whilst thesecond invention aspect relates to the achievement of the second partobject. The combination of the two invention aspects, however, leads toa preferred embodiment of the two inventions, which is why bothinvention aspects are described below in the present description.

The first invention aspect which is claimed in the present applicationconcerns the collecting of flat articles to form units in such a mannerthat they remain definable or differentiatable from one another even inthe following further processing.

The second invention aspect concerns the grouping of individualizedarticles to form units with the same type of individualization features.

The first part object relating to the first invention aspect is achievedby the features of independent claims 1 and 12. Further preferredembodiments and further developments of the invention proceed from thedependent claims. In this case, features of the method claims arecombinable in an analogous manner with the apparatus claims and viceversa. At this point, it is also emphasized that features which aredisclosed in conjunction with the first invention aspect are combinablewith features of the second invention aspect.

The collecting of flat articles is to be understood as the forming ofcollections of, in each case, several articles which, put together toform a unit, are to be supplied to further processing. The collectionscan be formed by gathering articles to form stacks or by nestingarticles in one another or by a combination of the two aforementionedoperations.

The unit, in a preferred manner, is a delivery unit. Such a deliveryunit is distinguished in that the articles contained therein aredelivered to a common recipient address. The individualizing features ofthe flat articles correspond to identification data such as a recipientaddress or an address code from which a recipient address can bededuced.

The delivery unit includes at least one, preferably a plurality of flatarticles as well as a flat, flexible enclosing unit which is weakenedalong a bending line and includes two enclosing portions which aredefined from one another along the bending line and form a receivingpocket. The articles in the receiving pocket of the enclosing unit arecombined together to form a collection.

The collection includes, in a preferred manner, at least one articlewhich is provided with identification data.

According to a further development of the invention, the enclosing unitcan also include identification data. This can be printed onto theoutside of the enclosing unit. With regard to content, saididentification data can correspond to the identification data of anarticle of the collection which is provided with identification data.

The enclosing unit can also include a viewing window, through which itis possible to see the identification data which has been applied on anarticle of the collection or on a data carrier which is providedseparately to this and has been inserted into the receiving pocket. Thedata carrier can be a printed cover sheet.

The viewing window can be realized by a recess in an enclosing portionof the enclosing unit. Said recess can be covered by a transparent film.

It is additionally also possible for the enclosing unit to be realizedas such in a transparent manner or at least transparent over partsurfaces for the above-mentioned purposes.

The collecting can, for example, represent placing articles one on topof another or inserting articles into a receiving means. One group offlat articles, in this case, forms in each case a loose stack ofarticles which stand horizontally one on top of another or verticallyone next to another or abut against one another in an inclinedarrangement. In this case, the articles abut against one another in eachcase by way of their flat side. The term “stack” is to be interpreted ina corresponding manner in this aspect. If flat articles are combined toform a loose stack, this is also termed a collection.

An apparatus for collecting flat articles and for further conveying thecollected articles as a unit underlies the invention. For this reason,the apparatus includes a plurality of receiving units which are arrangedone behind another and are moved in a conveying direction along a closedconveyor path which is defined by a conveyor member. The receiving unitsare guided, in each case, through a collecting section, along whicharticles are supplied one after another to receiving units via transferstations of a transfer apparatus. The receiving units, at least alongthe collecting section, form a contact face onto which the articles aredeposited.

The device can include means for creating delivery units which aredesigned such that the delivery units are suppliable to the receivingunits by means of at least one transfer apparatus with at least onetransfer station. The creation of the delivery units can be effected inthe at least one transfer apparatus or in an apparatus which isconnected upstream of the transfer apparatus.

The flat articles can be printed products, such as newspapers, journals,brochures, advertising inserts, leaflets or flyers, or additionalarticles, also called add-ons. Additional articles are, in particular,sample goods, such as CDs, DVDs, tea bags, flags, T-shirts orfoil-coated products or gimmicks. The additional articles can befastened on printed products. The flat articles can be provided in anindividualized manner and with identification data, such as an addressor address code. The flat articles can also not be individualized. Theflat articles can be flexible or deflection resistant. The flat articlescan also include mail items which are provided with identification data,such as an address or address code. The combining of addressed items ofmail to form delivery units plays a central role in particular inconjunction with the second invention object. A mixed collecting ofindividualized and non-individualized flat articles to form units isalso possible.

To hold and support the collected articles, the receiving units form ineach case, in a preferred manner, two supporting elements which arelocated opposite one another and form a receiving space for receivingthe flat articles. The supporting elements can be connected together ornot connected together.

In a preferred manner, the receiving unit forms a contact face(supporting surface) for the flat articles along the collecting section.In a preferred manner, the contact face is realized inclined in theconveying direction along the collecting section. In a preferred manner,the inclination of the contact face is in such a manner that, because ofthe force of gravity, the articles are aligned at a stop which isdescribed below. The contact face, in a preferred manner, is realized bya supporting element, in particular by a bottom supporting element. Theinclination is, for example, at least 10° (angular degree) and a maximumof 60°. The inclination is in particular between 20 and 30°.

The receiving units can be realized as receiving pockets, receivingcells, grippers or carriages.

The receiving units can be, for example, part of a cell wheel or aninsert drum which is rotatingly drivable about its rotational axis. Thecell wheel or the insert drum comprises receiving cells, which arearranged radially around its rotational axis and extend in the axialdirection, with in each case a radially outwardly arranged receivingopening. The receiving cells correspond to the receiving units. Thesupporting elements of the receiving cells can, for example, be realizedby two cell walls which are movable in relation to one another.

The cell wheel or the insert drum includes conveying means, by means ofwhich the contents of the receiving cells are displaceable in the axialdirection.

The enclosing units, which are arranged in the receiving cells, aremoved in the axial direction, on the one hand, by the rotation of thecell wheel or the insert drum and, on the other hand, by the conveyingmeans, as a result of which a spiral movement path is generated.

Transfer stations, by means of which articles are supplied to theenclosing units and are inserted into said units, are arranged in theaxial direction along the cell wheel or the insert drum in the region ofthe outer circumference of the cell wheel or of the insert drum.

The enclosing units are guided past the transfer stations by themrunning through the above-described spiral path and at the same timebeing displaced in the axial direction of the cell wheel or of theinsert drum.

Devices with cell wheels of the aforementioned type are shown anddescribed, for example, in WO 2009/043358, in particular in FIGS. 1, 2,5 and 6, as well as in EP-B-1 090 867, in particular in FIGS. 1 and 2.

According to a preferred further development of the apparatus, thereceiving units include grippers with, in each case, a first and asecond gripper leg portion for holding the units in a clamping manneronce the collecting operation has been concluded. The gripper legportions are movable for this purpose in relation to one another betweenan open position, in which a receiving space is realized, and a closedposition in which the unit is held in a clamping manner. The gripper legportions can then be realized themselves as supporting elements. To thisend, the grippers, in a preferred manner, comprise a lengthened bottomgripper portion which forms the (inclined) contact face for thearticles. The grippers, in a preferred manner, are pivotable in relationto the conveying path and have a pivot axis which is transverse withrespect to the conveying direction.

It is also possible for the supporting elements to be elements that areindependent from the grippers of the receiving units and to be guided,for example, by means of an independent supporting element conveyingdevice along its own conveying path and to be conveyed along thecollecting section parallel to the grippers. Such a solution isdisclosed, for example, in WO 2010/051651.

The receiving units and in particular the associated grippers form, atleast along the collecting section, a stop for the articles which arearranged in the receiving space and, in particular, rest on the contactface. If grippers are provided, the stop is formed in a preferred mannerby the connecting region between the two gripper leg portions.

The conveyor path, along which the receiving units, and in particularthe grippers, are guided, includes in a preferred manner two pathportions which are arranged one above the other and are connectedtogether by means of arcuate, in particular circular transitionportions. The collecting section, in this connection, is realized in thetop path portion. The collecting section and, in a preferred manner, thetop path portion extend in a preferred manner linearly. In aparticularly preferred manner, they are horizontal. The top and bottompath portions extend in an additionally preferred manner parallel to oneanother. The receiving units, in particular the grippers thereof, extendin the bottom path portion in an expedient manner rotated by 180°(angular degrees) with respect to the top path portion which extends inthe opposite direction.

At least one, in a preferred manner several transfer stations of atransfer apparatus, which are arranged in a preferred manner one behindanother, connect along the collecting section, by means of whichtransfer stations individual articles or a group of articles aretransferred to the receiving units which are conveyed past them. Thetransfer of the articles is affected in a preferred manner whilst thereceiving units are moving. The movement is effected in a preferredmanner at a continuous speed. The transfer apparatus with the at leastone transfer station is, in each case, part of a feeding device, bymeans of which articles are supplied from a store or a conveying deviceto the receiving units.

The transfer stations can be realized as feeder units, by means of whichthe articles are supplied to the receiving units or the gripper mouth ofthe grippers, for example in a curved path. The articles can be suppliedto the receiving units, for example by means of a transfer conveyor beltas part of the transfer station. The articles or the group of articleswhich is intended for a certain receiving unit are supplied to thereceiving units in a pulsed manner, the pulse of the transfer stationsbeing synchronized with the pulse of the receiving units which areguided past them. The articles or groups of articles are supplied to thereceiving units one behind another, but spaced apart from one another,for example by means of the transfer conveyor belt. If, for example,there are no articles provided for transfer to one receiving unit, a gapbetween the articles is introduced on the transfer conveyor belt.

The apparatus also includes, in a preferred manner, a transfer device,on which the units from the receiving units are transferred to aconveying-away device. In a preferred manner, the conveying-away deviceis a belt conveyor. The units are deposited and further conveyed on thebelt conveyor, in a preferred manner individually and spaced apart fromone another or as a shingle stream. In a preferred manner, the units aredeposited on the belt conveyor by way of the leading shoulder. If thereceiving units contain grippers, the units are supplied to the transferdevice held by the grippers and are transferred to the belt conveyor ordeposited on said belt conveyor when the grippers are opened. Thetransfer device, in a preferred manner, is arranged in the region of acurved transition portion and/or in the bottom path portion.

The device for collecting articles or the conveying-away device alsoincludes in a preferred manner a printing apparatus, on which units offlat articles, in particular delivery units, are able to be printed withidentification data, such as address, address code and/or delivery area.

The printing apparatus includes in a preferred manner an addressingstation or consists of such a one. The printing apparatus can alsoinclude a printing station for printing the units with advertisingmessages or a logo. The advertising messages can include multi-coloredand/or three-dimensional representations. The printing apparatus caninclude one or several print stations which are arranged one behindanother, one of the stations being an addressing station. The printingis affected in a preferred manner on the enclosing unit, and inparticular on one of the enclosing portions. An ink jet method can beused, for example, for this purpose.

The printing apparatus, in a preferred manner, is arranged at the end ofthe collecting section. In principle, the printing apparatus can also beplaced at another point in the device. The paper sheets can also alreadybe printed or addressed prior to the collecting section or not until theunits have been transferred to a conveying-away device. In acorresponding manner, the printing apparatus is arranged upstream of thecollecting section or in a conveying-away device which is connectedthereto.

The apparatus according to the invention also includes a controlapparatus which controls the supplying and removal of the flat articlesto the receiving units, the movement of the receiving units along theircircular path as well as the removal of the units to a conveying-awaydevice. The control apparatus is connected to the correspondingapparatuses of the device by means of bidirectional data lines.

The first object of the invention relates then to a method forcollecting flat articles and for further conveying the collectedarticles by means of receiving units, the receiving units comprising ineach case two oppositely situated supporting elements for holding andsupporting the collected articles, said supporting elements realizing areceiving space.

The method according to the invention is characterized by the followingmethod steps:

-   -   provide a flat, flexible enclosing unit which is weakened in        part along a bending line, and    -   bend the flat enclosing unit along the bending line thus        realizing two enclosing portions which are defined from one        another by the bending line;    -   insert the bent enclosing unit into the receiving space,        wherein, in a preferred manner, in a non-weakened region along        the bending line a restoring force acts on the bent enclosing        unit in the direction of a planar position of the enclosing        unit;    -   hold the enclosing portions of the enclosing unit in the        receiving space on the adjacent supporting elements thus        realizing a receiving pocket;    -   supply at least one article into the entrained receiving pocket        of the bent enclosing unit; and    -   guide the two enclosing portions toward one another.

The holding of the enclosing portions in the receiving space on theadjacent supporting elements occurs in a preferred manner because of therestoring force which acts on the enclosing portions. The enclosingportions, in this case, are pressed onto the adjacent supportingelements. I.e. the bent enclosing unit is held in the receiving spacebecause of the pressing force.

The enclosing unit is closed in a preferred manner following theenclosing portions being guided toward one another. The enclosingportions are connected together for this purpose, in particular in atleast one edge region. The connection can be effected by means of anadhesive agent which connects the enclosing portions together. Theconnection can be detachable or non-detachable. The adhesive agent canconnect the enclosing portions together in an edge region at least overpart of their surface.

The enclosing portions can also be connected together by means of theadhesive agent in several edge regions at least over part of theirsurface. Thus, the enclosing portions can be connected together by meansof an adhesive agent at least over part of their surface in the edgeregions of three product edges which do not correspond to the fold.

The enclosing unit can be closed, for example by means of a flatadhesive element, such as adhesive strip, which connects the twoenclosing portions together. In addition, an adhesive agent or adhesive,which connects the two enclosing portions together in a face region whenthe same are guided together, can also be applied onto the said faceregion of an enclosing portion.

The enclosing unit is flexible and pliable. In a preferred manner, itcontains pulp fibers, such as cellulose fibers, which are orientedanisotropically in a particularly preferred manner. The enclosing unitcan be a sheet of paper with a single-layer or multi-layer or single-plyor multi-ply design. In a preferred manner, at least one layer or plyconsists of paper, cardboard or paperboard. Several layers can be bondedtogether for example. Further layers can consist of metal or plasticsmaterial. The plastics material layer can be added to the laminarstructure by means of extrusion, lamination or varnishing. The flat,flexible enclosing unit can also consist of a plastics material, inparticular a plastics film. The enclosing unit can be a single-leaf ormultiple-leaf product. Said multiple-leafed product can be bonded,stitched or glued. The enclosing unit can comprise different surfacedimensions and geometries and, for example, can comprise polygonal,round or combined forms. The enclosing unit, in a preferred manner, isrealized in a rectangular shape. The enclosing unit can also be in theform of a strip. The enclosing portions can have a smaller surface areathan the articles collected therein. The enclosing unit can also includereinforcing structures, such as wall thickenings, which, for example,increase the restoring force in the direction of a planar position ofthe enclosing unit.

The enclosing unit, which is weakened in part along the bending line,realizes an open envelope or a jacket for receiving the flat articles.The enclosing unit, in a preferred manner, is open toward three sides. Arectangular enclosing unit, for example, comprises a bending line aswell as three edges, along which the enclosing unit is open. In theregion of and along the bending line, the enclosing unit forms a stopfor the articles which have been pushed into the receiving pocket of theenclosing unit.

The enclosing unit, in a preferred manner, comprises purely one bendingline or purely one or a plurality of fold lines which are arranged alongone single bending line.

The enclosing unit, in a preferred manner, is a sheet of paper, theenclosing portions corresponding to the sheet portions and the enclosingedges corresponding to the sheet edges. The sheets are of paper with aweight per unit area of, for example, between 20 g/m² and 200 g/m², inparticular of, for example, between 40 g/m² and 120 g/m². The grammage,however, can be ever greater. The sheets can also be of cardboard, forexample. The sheets usually comprise, as in the case of paper, a fiberdistribution with an anisotropic fiber alignment. The enclosing unitconsists in a preferred manner of one single sheet.

The weakening along the bending line can be in the form of a groove, afold, a cut or a perforation. The weakening can also be realized as aresult of wetting along the bending line, for example as a result of abar-shaped wetting. The weakening, in a preferred manner, is realized asa weakening line. In the region of the weakening line, the restoringforce of the sheet is eliminated or at least reduced. The weakeningline, in a preferred manner, is a fold line. A cut or a perforation canbe undertaken by means of a cutting or stamping tool. In order to ensurethe enclosing portions have a sufficient resetting force, in a preferredmanner at least 10% of the bending line remains non-weakened. Inaddition, a maximum of 70% of the bending line preferably remainsnon-weakened. However, said value also depends on the materialcharacteristics, such as fiber proportion, fiber orientation, weight perunit area or thickness of the sheet or possible coatings. Consequently,the resetting force can be adjusted by means of the amount of the ratiobetween the overall length B of the one or of all the weakening linesalong the bending line and the overall length A of the bending line. Theratio B:A, for example, can be 0.1:0.7 and is always less than 1. Thesmaller the ratio, the greater the resetting force of the enclosingportions.

In a preferred manner, the apparatus includes for this purpose anenclosing unit feed apparatus for supplying an enclosing unit which isweakened in part along the bending line and for transferring theenclosing unit into the receiving space of the receiving unit. Theenclosing unit feed apparatus, in a preferred manner, is designed suchthat it is capable of inserting the enclosing unit, which is weakened inpart along the bending line, in the bent state into the receiving space.The enclosing unit, which presses against the supporting elements by wayof its enclosing portions which represent bending portions, is held, ina preferred manner, by the supporting elements as a result of theresetting force acting on the enclosing portions.

The enclosing unit feed apparatus can be realized as a feeder unit, bymeans of which the enclosing units are supplied to the receiving unitsor to the gripper mouth of the grippers for example in an arched path.

The resetting force of the enclosing unit causes the enclosing portionsof the enclosing unit to spread out, the enclosing portions bearingagainst the supporting elements. The spreading-out operation istherefore limited by the supporting elements. The contact pressure ofthe enclosing portions against the supporting elements causes arelatively high level of static friction such that the enclosing unitcannot be displaced in the receiving space without a minimum of forcebeing expended.

In a preferred design of the invention, a plurality of articles isdeposited into the receiving space by means of one or several transferstations thereby forming a (small) stack. The receiving units are movedfor this purpose in the conveying direction along the closed conveyingpath. The articles are inserted into the receiving pockets which arerealized in the receiving units along the collecting section in apreferred manner transversely with respect to or in opposition to thedirection of movement of the receiving units. The articles are depositedin the receiving pocket for this purpose in a preferred manner onto anenclosing portion of the bent enclosing unit.

If the receiving units include grippers, in a preferred manner thegripper leg portions form the supporting elements. According to saiddesign, in the open position the gripper leg portions form the receivingspace in which the enclosing unit is held, thereby forming the receivingpocket. In the closed position of the gripper leg portions, theenclosing portions are guided towards one another, the gripper legportions together with the enclosing unit holding the collected articlesin a clamping manner.

In a further development of the invention, the method also includes thegenerating of at least one weakening line along a bending line on theenclosing unit. According to the invention, the at least one weakeningline is shorter than the bending line and extends purely over a partsection of the bending line. If the weakening line is a fold line, thefolding operation is carried out by means of a folding apparatus. Thefolding apparatus can be part of the device for collecting flatarticles. The folding apparatus is coupled, for example, with theenclosing unit feed apparatus. In this way, for example, enclosing unitscan be supplied to the folding apparatus, folded in part in the foldingapparatus and, by means of the enclosing unit feed apparatus, suppliedto the receiving units at the start of the collecting section. Theprocessing of the enclosing units in the folding apparatus occurs, inthis case, in a preferred manner in-line and with reference to the pulseof the movement of the receiving units.

The folding apparatus for generating the part fold can operate, forexample, according to the buckle fold principle which is known from theprior art. For this purpose the folding apparatus includes a side pocketstop for the enclosing unit as well as two rotating fold rollers, abuckle space being formed between the fold rollers, in which bucklespace the enclosing unit, which bears against the stop, is buckled andis pulled through between the fold rollers thereby realizing a foldbreak. To realize a partial fold along the bending line, the foldrollers do not then extend in the direction of their rotational axesover the entire length of the bending line but simply over that partsection of the bending line in which a fold break is to be generated.

The folding apparatus can also operate additionally according to theknife fold principle which is also known from the prior art. In thiscase, along with the two rotating fold rollers, the folding apparatusalso contains a knife which pushes the enclosing unit along a bendingline between the fold rollers. The knife quasi replaces the pocket stopwhich causes the enclosing unit to buckle. To realize a part fold alongthe bending line, the fold rollers do not then extend in the directionof their rotational axis over the entire length of the bending line butsimply over that part section of the bending line in which a fold breakis to be generated. In addition, the knife can also extend simply overthat part section along the bending line in which a fold break is to begenerated. The fold is affected, in principle, in a preferred mannertransversely with respect to the conveying direction.

Furthermore, the folding apparatus can include a crease unit in whichthe enclosing units are creased prior to folding along the fold line tobe produced. The creasing is effected in a preferred manner transverselywith respect to the conveying direction. The crease unit is designedcorrespondingly for this purpose. The individual enclosing unit isconsequently only creased along the bending line over that part sectionin which a fold line is also subsequently generated. The crease tool,such as a crease knife, also extends in a corresponding manner simplyover that part section along the bending line in which a fold line issubsequently generated.

Folding in paper processing means the producing of a sharp crease edge,also called a fold line or fold break, by means of a tool or a machine.The folding causes fibers crossing the fold line to break such thatlayers or plies, e.g. of paper, containing pulp fibers lose theirinternal tension, which brings about a resetting force during bending,completely or at least in part along the fold line.

The creasing, in turn, in paper processing means the imprinting of abreak line in order to simplify the folding of a layer or ply containingpulp fibers, e.g. of paper. The creasing brings about a linear materialdisplacement or a rough-crushing of the fibers. This occurs, forexample, by means of pressing tools in order to create flexibility forthe material.

As already mentioned, the individual enclosing unit comprises a bendingline which extends between two enclosing edges. A bending line meansthat the enclosing unit is bent along said line thereby forming twoenclosing portions without however a weakening line being forciblygenerated. In an expedient manner then, the bending line includes aplurality of part sections, at least one part section forming aweakening line and at least one part section not forming a weakeningline. In a preferred manner, part sections with a weakening line andpart sections without a weakening line alternate in each case along thebending line.

According to a first embodiment of an enclosing unit, a center partsection of the bending line comprises a weakening line, whilst the twoside part sections which extend toward the enclosing edges do notcomprise a weakening line.

According to a second embodiment of a sheet, the two side part sectionswhich extend toward the enclosing edges comprise a weakening line,whilst a center part section of the bending line which is locatedbetween the side part sections does not comprise a weakening line.

In a further development of the invention, the method also includes theclosing of the grippers once the operation for collecting the articleshas been concluded as well as the gripping of the bent enclosing unitwith the articles collected therein by means of the gripper leg portionsin the above-described manner. The units held by the grippers arefurther conveyed in this way in a preferred manner along the conveyingpath before they are transferred for example on a transfer device to aconveying-away device.

The opening and closing of the grippers along the circular path iseffected in the known manner, for example by means of a connecting linkguide which interacts by way of actuating means, such as controlrollers, with the grippers.

In a further development of the method according to the invention, theenclosing unit together with the articles held in said enclosing unit istransferred to a conveying-away device as one unit by means of atransfer device.

According to a possible embodiment of the method according to theinvention, once the unit has been completed, in a direct manner, e.g. atthe end of the collecting section, or in an indirect manner followingthe collecting operation, e.g. in a conveying-away device, the enclosingunit is folded completely thereby forming a continuous fold line alongthe bending line. A corresponding folding apparatus can be provided forthis purpose. In principle, the gripper can also be developed in such amanner that at the same time as the gripper is closed, the continuousfold line and consequently the complete folding is executed.

Furthermore, a double belt conveyor can also be provided. The completedunit can be moved through between the two conveyor belts of the doublebelt conveyor, the enclosing unit being folded completely by thepressing force of the belt conveyors. The double belt conveyor can be,for example, a conveying-away device following the collecting section.

The second aspect of the invention relates then to a device as well asto a method for combining pre-sorted mail, thus realizing so-calleddelivery units, the above-described device for collecting articles beingused for this purpose. In this case, the abovementioned units correspondto the named delivery units.

The second invention is characterized in that the device for collectingarticles includes a supplying apparatus/device for charging or supplyingindividualized articles which are provided with identification data tothe receiving units.

In addition, the supplying apparatus includes at least one storage unitfor providing the individualized articles in stack formation, inparticular as bars, as well as a separating-into-singles unit forseparating the individualized articles into singles.

Furthermore, the supplying apparatus includes a checking unit forchecking the identification data on the articles as well as at least onetransfer apparatus with at least one transfer station, by means of whichthe individualized articles are transferred to the receiving units.

The checking unit can also be designed for the purpose of checking thatthe articles have been separated into singles. Error functions, such asthe simultaneous removal of several articles from the at least onestorage unit, are detected in this way. The detected data is processedin a corresponding manner in a control apparatus.

The checking unit can be arranged with the separating-into-singles unit.The checking unit, however, can also be arranged in the supplyingapparatus at a position arranged downstream in the processing direction.

The term “individualized”, in this case, is not to be confused with theterm “separated into singles”. Individualized articles containidentification data, by means of which they differ from other, similartype articles and, for example, can be assigned to a recipient address.The recipient address can relate to a household, a person, a company ora building. Articles separated into singles, in contrast, are articleswhich are present as individual items.

The associated method is characterized by the following steps:

-   -   move the receiving units in the conveying direction along the        collecting section of the closed conveying path;    -   prepare grouped, pre-sorted, individualized articles, i.e.        provided with identification data,    -   separate individualized articles of the group into singles,    -   check the identification data, such as the address, of the        articles separated out into singles,    -   supply the articles to a transfer station of a transfer        apparatus and    -   transfer the articles to the receiving units along the        collecting section of the conveying path.

The grouped articles can be present, for example, in bar or stackformation. The checking unit checks the identification data detected onthe article. The checking unit is connected for this purpose to acontrol apparatus which, based on the checking results, assigns thearticles correctly to the following further processing units by means ofa distributing apparatus with at least one distributing unit. Thechecking is to ensure that articles with matching identification dataare transferred to a common receiving unit and articles with differentidentification data are transferred to different receiving units.

According to a preferred embodiment, the individualized articles instack formation are already pre-sorted according to their identificationdata, articles with matching identification data being arrangedfollowing directly one after another. The checking unit then comparesthe detected identification data with identification data filed in adata storage unit which corresponds to the pre-sorting of the articles.I.e. the sequence of the pre-sorted articles is also stored in the datamemory. Whether the articles are actually present in the pre-sortedsequence or whether they deviate from the said sequence is to be testedin this manner.

The individualized articles are then allocated by means of adistributing apparatus with at least one distributing unit either in anindirect manner, in particular by means of an intermediate storagesystem, or in a direct manner to a transfer station, articles withmatching identification data, such as address or address codes, beingdeposited in a common receiving unit.

According to a first embodiment of the second invention, for supplyingindividualized articles the supplying apparatus includes a storage unit,a transfer apparatus with a plurality of transfer stations as well as adistributing apparatus with a distributing unit. The articles aredistributed to the individual transfer stations by means of thedistributing unit and are transferred from these to the receiving units.In this respect, the distributing unit supplies articles with the sameaddress in each case to consecutive transfer stations, by means of whichthe articles are supplied to the receiving unit passing the transferstations. Articles with the same address, in this case, are transferredto a common receiving unit by means of several transfer stations whichare arranged along the collecting section.

According to a second embodiment of the second invention, for supplyingindividualized articles the supplying apparatus includes a storage unit,an intermediate storage system with several intermediate stores in eachcase for one group of articles. In addition, the supplying apparatusalso includes a distributing apparatus with a distributing unit as wellas a transfer apparatus with at least one, preferably precisely onetransfer station. The articles are distributed by means of thedistributing unit to the intermediate stores of the intermediate storagesystem and there, where applicable, are grouped to form groups ofseveral articles. A group formed in an intermediate store includes ineach case articles with the same identification data.

The individual groups are then transferred from the intermediate storesto the receiving units by means of the transfer station, one group ofarticles being transferred to a common receiving unit. If there is onlyone article with the identification data, said article is depositedindividually in an intermediate store. This means that a group caninclude one single or several articles. The intermediate storage systemprovides a type of sorting store in which groups of individualizedarticles are formed and stored intermediately and in a following stepthey are output to receiving units. Consequently, it is basicallysufficient when the said supplying apparatus includes simply one singletransfer station which is charged with groups of articles from theintermediate stores in a sequential manner.

According to a third embodiment of the second invention, for supplyingindividualized articles the supplying apparatus includes several storageunits, e.g. two storage units, as well as analogously to the secondembodiment an intermediate storage system with several intermediatestores for in each case one group of articles.

In addition, the supplying apparatus includes a distributing apparatuswith a plurality of distributing units which are movable one behindanother by means of a conveying member along a movement direction arounda circular path. The distributing units are conveyed along theirconveying path past the storage units. The items of mail, which havebeen separated out into singles beforehand, are transferred from thestorage units to the distributing units which are conveyed past.

Furthermore, analogously to the second embodiment, the supplyingapparatus also includes a transfer apparatus with at least one,preferably precisely one transfer station.

The articles in the distributing units are distributed by thedistributing units to the intermediate stores of the intermediatestorage system and are transferred to them. Where applicable, groups ofseveral articles are created in the intermediate stores. A group formedin an intermediate store includes in each case articles with the sameidentification data.

The individual groups of articles are then transferred out of theintermediate stores by means of the transfer station and from saidtransfer station to the receiving units, one group of articles beingtransferred to a common receiving unit.

If there is only one article associated with the identification data,said article is deposited individually in an intermediate store. Thismeans that a group can include one single article or several articles.

The intermediate storage system provides a type of sorting store inwhich groups of individualized articles are formed and storedintermediately, which in a following step are output to receiving units.Consequently, it is basically sufficient when the said supplyingapparatus includes simply one single transfer station which is chargedwith groups of articles from the intermediate stores in a sequentialmanner.

The distributing units according to the three embodiments cooperate in apreferred manner with a points system or include such a points system.By means of the points system, the articles can be assigned to thecorresponding intermediate stores of the intermediate storage system orto the corresponding transfer stations of the transfer apparatus.

According to the third embodiment, for the purposes of transferring thearticles to an intermediate store or to a transfer station, thedistributing units, however, can also be conveyed along their circularpath past the intermediate stores or the transfer stations. Means areprovided for transferring the articles from the distributing units tothe intermediate stores or to the transfer stations. A points systemaccording to said variant is not necessary.

Obviously, advertising inserts can also be individualized, e.g.addressed, by means of a corresponding printing apparatus prior to thecollecting section, and supplied to the receiving units asindividualized articles. Here too, the control apparatus is responsible,by means of pulse-related, in particular pulse-synchronous processing ofthe articles, for ensuring that the individualized advertising insertsare assigned to the correct receiving units.

Using the apparatus according to the invention and the associatedmethod, individualized articles, such as addressed items of mail, can beprocessed and can be combined with non-individualized articles, such asadvertising inserts, to form individualized delivery units. Thisdifferentiates the present device and the present method from knowndevices and methods where non-individualized articles, such asnewspapers, journals or advertising inserts, are gathered to formcollections, packaged and are only individualized at the end by printingan address on the packaging sleeve.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is explained in more detail below by way of preferredexemplary embodiments which are shown in the accompanying drawings, inwhich, in each case:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view that shows a schematic representation of anunfolded sheet;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view that shows a schematic representation of apartially folded sheet according to a first embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view that shows a schematic representation of apartially folded sheet according to a second embodiment;

FIG. 4 is an elevation view that shows a schematic representation of aside view along the collecting section of the conveying device;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view that shows a schematic representation of aperspective view of a sheet supplying device;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view that shows a schematic representation of aperspective view of a crease-fold apparatus;

FIG. 7 is a schematic representation of a simplified top view of thedevice for collecting articles in the region of the collecting sectionaccording to a first embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a schematic representation of a simplified top view of thedevice for collecting articles in the region of the collecting sectionaccording to a second embodiment;

FIG. 9 a is a perspective view that shows a schematic representation ofa perspective view of a delivery unit;

FIG. 9 b is a perspective view that shows a schematic representation ofa perspective view of a further delivery unit; and

FIG. 10 is a schematic representation of a simplified top view of thedevice for collecting articles in the region of the collecting sectionaccording to a third embodiment.

In principle, the same parts are provided with the same references inthe figures. In the following figures, the enclosing unit is shown anddescribed as a sheet of paper. However, this is not to be viewed asrestricting the exemplary embodiments to enclosing units produced fromsheets of paper. In addition, sheets with folding lines are described inthe following exemplary embodiments. Obviously, as described above,weakening lines can be provided quite generally instead of fold lines.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows an unfolded, planar sheet 1.1 which realizes the initialmaterial for forming a partially folded envelope which is open on threesides for receiving flat articles. The sheet 1.1 comprises a bendingline 2 which extends from a first sheet edge to a second sheet edgewhich is located opposite and along which the sheet 1.1 is bent andpartially folded in a subsequent method step.

FIGS. 2 and 3 each show a sheet 1.2 and 1.3 which is partially foldedalong the bending line 2. The bending line 2 divides the sheet 1.2 intotwo sheet portions 8 a, 8 b.

In the embodiment according to FIG. 2, a fold line 5 which is shorterthan the bending line 2 is arranged along a central part section of thebending line 2. It is flanked by two unfolded part sections 4 a, 4 bwhich are arranged at the sides along the bending line 2 and lead towardthe sheet edges.

In the embodiment according to FIG. 3, the bending line 2 has two foldlines 6 a, 6 b which are arranged at the sides and lead toward the sheetedges. The fold lines 6 a, 6 b enclose an unfolded, central part section7 along the bending line 2. The sheet according to FIGS. 2 and 3 thencomprises along its bending line 2, at least in the region of theunfolded, central part section 7, an internal tension which exerts aresetting force from a bent into a planar position onto the sheetportions 8 a, 8 b at the sides of the bending line 2.

FIG. 4 shows a limited detail of a device 10 for collecting articlesfrom the region along the collecting section S. The device 10 comprisesreceiving units 11 in the form of grippers. The grippers 11 are mountedon a conveyor chain 13 spaced apart from one another in the conveyingdirection F. The conveyor chain 13 is guided with the grippers 11 alonga guide device 14. Along the collecting section S, the grippers 11comprise a top, first gripper leg portion 12 a and a bottom, secondgripper leg portion 12 b which is arranged so as to be movable inrelation to the first gripper leg portion 12 a. The second gripper legportion 12 a is lengthened compared to the first gripper leg portion 12a and forms a contact face for the articles 9 a, 9 b which are to becollected.

The gripper leg portions 12 a, 12 b form a gripper mouth whichcorresponds to the receiving space for a sheet 1.2, 1.3 which is bentalong the bending line 2 and is partially folded. In each case, a stop15 is realized on that side of the gripper 11 which is located oppositethe gripper mouth opening.

A sheet feed apparatus 20 is provided for the purposes of supplyingbent, partially folded sheets 1.2 into the gripper mouth of the grippers11. The sheet feed apparatus 20 is designed for feeding sheets 1.2 wherethe fold line 5 is arranged along a central part section 7 of thebending line 2. Sheets 1.2 which are already part-folded are suppliedthen to the grippers 11 by means of the sheet feed apparatus 20. Thesheet feed apparatus 20 comprises a flexible draw-in roller 16, whichinteracts with a take-over conveyor belt 23 and takes over the partlyfolded sheets from the folding apparatus and forwards them to a conveyorunit of the sheet feed apparatus 20. The draw-in roller 16 can be offoam material or can include foam material in order to ensure softcontact on the sheets in the region of the central portion in which thefold line lies. The conveying unit includes a double belt conveyor 21,by means of which the sheets are conveyed to a removal point. The doublebelt conveyor 21 is designed such that the bent sheets 1.2 at both sheetportions 8 a, 8 b are guided by a conveyor belt and secured in aclamping manner. The individually conveyed sheets 1.2, however, are onlyin conveying-engagement with the two conveyor belts of the belt conveyor21 in the center portion of the bending line 2, in which the fold lineis also arranged. In the region of the side portions, in which lie theunfolded part sections 4 a, 4 b of the bending line 2, the sheet 1.2 iscertainly guided, but is not gripped by the conveyor belts such that insaid region no fold line is realized as a result of the contact force ofthe belt conveyor 21.

In principle, it is true to say that in the entire sheet feed apparatus20 the sheets 1.2 only pass into conveying-engagement with thecorresponding conveying members, such as belt conveyors, by way of thoseportions in which the part sections of the bending line 2 are with afold line. Conveying-engagement, in this context in particular, meanscontact pressure exerted onto the sheet to produce frictionally engagedcontact with the sheet for the purposes of transferring a movementtorque, e.g. from a belt conveyor or from conveyor rollers to thesheets.

In the present sheet feed apparatus, the side portions of the bent sheet1.2, which are not in conveying-engagement, with the unfolded partsections are supported and guided along the conveying direction Fb bymeans of a surface guide element 22 in the form of a baffle. The sheets1.2 are output at a transfer point of the sheet feed apparatus 20 (notshown).

When being transferred in the bent state, the individual sheet 1.2 ispushed into the gripper mouth of the grippers 11 with the bending line 2in the front. The bending line 2, in this connection, is pushed into thegripper mouth as far as up to the stop 15. As a result of the resettingforce which is exerted by the unfolded part sections of the bending line2 onto the sheet portions 8 a, 8 b, the sheet portions 8 a, 8 b arespread apart from one another. The sheet portions 8 a, 8 b abut againstthe gripper leg portions 12 a, 12 b due to a contact force exerted inthe gripper mouth. The contact force generates friction such that thesheet 1.2 is held in the gripper mouth and is secured againstdisplacement to the side. The sheet 1.2 is at least partially openedcorresponding to the opening width of the gripper mouth and forms areceiving pocket for the subsequently collected flat articles 9 a, 9 b.

Following the collecting of the flat articles 9 a, 9 b, the grippers areclosed to further conveying them. During said operation, the two sheetportions 8 a, 8 b are guided toward one another. The gripper legportions 12 a, 12 b, in this case, secure the collected articles 9 a, 9b between the sheet portions 8 a, 8 b in a clamping manner. The closedsheets 1.2 with the flat articles 9 a, 9 b collected therein aretransferred by the grippers 11 to a conveying-away device for furtherprocessing (not shown).

FIG. 6 shows a possible embodiment of a folding apparatus for producingpartially folded sheets 1.2. The folding apparatus is realized as acrease-fold apparatus 30. The crease-fold apparatus 30 includes a feedsection by means of which individual planar sheets 1.1 are supplied in afeed direction Fa by means of a conveyor belt 31. The sheets are alignedon the feed section along an alignment cam belt by leading alignmentcams 34 of the slower running alignment cam belt abutting against theleading edges of the sheets 1.1 and thereby spacing and aligning thesheets 1.1 uniformly with respect to one another.

The crease-fold apparatus 30 includes a crease-fold unit 32 in which theindividual sheet 1.1 is initially creased along a bending line 2 alongthat part section or those part sections in which a fold line 5 is thenplaced. The crease unit is designed such that it only acts on the partsection or part sections of the bending line 2 in which a fold line 5 isto be created. Following the creasing, the sheet 1.2 is folded in partin a buckle fold unit, the buckle fold unit being designed such that theassociated fold rollers only act on the creased part sections of thebending line and not on the entire bending line 2 of the sheet 1.2. Thismeans in particular that the fold rollers do not extend over the entireextension of the bending line 2 but simply over one or several partsections thereof.

Once the fold line 5 has been applied, the sheet 1.2 is removed from thecrease-fold apparatus 30 and is, for example, transferred to thereceiving units 12 by means of an above-described sheet feed apparatus20.

The described crease-fold apparatus 30 as well as the sheet feedapparatus 20 are not compulsory features of the device 10 for collectingarticles but purely preferred embodiments of such apparatuses with whichthe device 10 according to the invention can be supplemented in aparticularly advantageous manner. The sheets can namely also be foldedin another manner and can be supplied to the device 10 in anothermanner. The sheets do not need to be folded in particular in-line, i.e.in the production line, but can definitely also be called up from anintermediate store already provided with the part fold.

FIGS. 7, 8 and 10 then show three particular embodiments of a device40.1, 40.2, 40.3 for collecting articles according to the second aspectof the invention. The partly folded sheets 1.2, 1.3 are particularlysuited for use in the three devices 40.1, 40.2 and 40.3 described belowas an envelope for collecting flat articles as has been described inconjunction with FIGS. 1 to 5. In addition, the crease-fold apparatus 30according to FIG. 6, the sheet feed apparatus 20 according to FIG. 5 aswell as the conveying device with grippers 11 according to FIG. 4 arealso particularly well suited for use in the three devices 40.1, 40.2and 40.3.

The devices according to FIGS. 7, 8 and 10 are concerned with generatingdispatch-ready delivery units. In this connection, this is first andforemost the processing of items of mail. Two part objects underlie thepresent invention. On the one hand, items of mail with the same addressare to be combined to form one delivery unit such that the deliverer candeliver the mail to the recipient combined as one unit and notindividually. The delivery unit, in this case, is also to be addressedas a whole. A second part object is to insert non-individualized, e.g.non-addressed inserts, such as advertising inserts or additionalarticles, in the delivery units. As the delivery unit, which alsoreceives advertising inserts along with addressed items of mail, isaddressed as a whole, advertising can also be delivered to thoserecipients who do not desire any non-individualized advertising.

The objects are achieved then as a result of items of mail andnon-individualized inserts which are directed to a recipient beingcollected loosely in a partially folded sheet. The sheet forms a type ofenvelope which serves, in particular, for holding collections togetherand for transporting them separately from other collections.

The devices 40.1, 40.2 and 40.3 according to FIGS. 7, 8 and 10 comprisethen a plurality of receiving units 41 which are movable in a conveyingdirection Fc along a closed conveying path which is defined by aconveying member. The receiving units 41 and the conveying member arerealized in a preferred manner according to the embodiments shown inFIG. 4. The device 40.1, 40.2 and 40.3 forms a collecting section S,along which the flat articles 50 are collected.

At the start of or prior to the collecting section S, sheets are foldedin part according to the invention by means of a crease-fold apparatus30 according to FIG. 6 and are supplied to the receiving units 41 bymeans of a sheet feed apparatus 20 according to the embodiment shown inFIG. 5. The crease-fold apparatus 30 obtains the sheets 1.1, in turn,from an intermediate sheet store 57 which stores the sheets 1.1 in stackform and outputs them to the feed section of the crease-fold apparatus30 by means of a separating-into-singles unit. The feeding of sheets 1.1as well as the folding of the same and the transfer to the receivingunits 41 as well as the relevant apparatuses, however, can also bedeveloped in another manner. In particular, the intermediate store 57,the crease-fold apparatus 30, the sheet feed device 20 and the receivingunits 41 with the associated conveying member 13, as already mentionedabove, can be realized in another manner.

Furthermore, the devices 40.1, 40.2 and 40.3 according to FIGS. 7, 8 and10 include a supplying apparatus 80 for supplying flat, addressedarticles 50 into the receiving pockets of the partially folded sheets1.2 which are arranged in the receiving units 41. The term “addressed”means in the widest sense that the articles are provided withidentification data which allows the article to be allocated manually orby means of a data processing device to a certain recipient address.This can be, for example, the address itself or a machine-readableaddress code. The articles are first and foremost items of mail. Theterm “mail” is to be understood in the widest sense as a data carrier,such as for example data written on paper, which is packaged in anaddressed cover.

The supplying apparatus 80 according to the two embodiments according toFIGS. 7 and 8 includes a storage unit 48 which provides the items ofmail 50 in stack or bar formation.

In contrast, the supplying apparatus 80 according to the embodimentaccording to FIG. 10 includes two storage units 48.1, 48.2 which providethe items of mail 50 a, 50 b in each case in stack or bar formation. Thetwo storage units 48.1, 48.2 receive, for example, items of mail 50 a,50 b in different formats. Thus, for example, a first storage unit 48.1can receive small-format mail 50 a whilst the second storage unit 48.2receives large-format mail 50 b.

The items of mail in the storage units 48, 48.1, 48.2 are in each casealready pre-sorted. In particular items of mail with the same recipientaddress are arranged, in a preferred manner, directly one behindanother. In addition, the items of mail are also already organized in apreferred manner according to a delivery area or even to a deliveryroute of a delivery area. Thus, the items of mail of one delivery areacan be arranged one behind another such that following the collectingoperation they can be supplied without further sorting directly into aconveying device which, for example, is allocated to the delivererresponsible for a delivery area. In a preferred manner, the items ofmail are sorted as mentioned not only according to a delivery area butalso already according to a delivery route, along which the delivererdelivers the mail to the recipients.

The device 40.1, 40.2 and 40.3 according to the invention includes inthis context an electronic data memory 47 in which the address data ofitems of mail already recorded previously electronically are stored. Inaddition, the sorting sequence of the items of mail stacked in thestorage unit 48 is also stored in the electronic data memory 47. Theelectronic data memory 47 with the address and sorting data is connectedto a control apparatus 45. The control apparatus is connected by meansof bidirectional data lines or control lines 46 to, among other things,the separating-into-singles unit 49, the transfer stations 55, 55 a . .. 55 d, the crease-fold apparatus 30 of the sheet feed apparatus 20 aswell as the drive 44 of the receiving units 41.

The data memory 47 can contain even more data, thus the individual,stored address data can have associated therewith individual data orrecipient profiles. Such recipient profiles can include, for example,interests, profession, hobbies, sex, age or origin of the recipientbehind the address data. Recipient-specific delivery units can then becreated by means of the control apparatus. Thus, recipient-specificarticles, such as advertising inserts, can be added in a targeted mannerto the individual delivery units. In addition, the sheet can also beprinted in a targeted manner with advertising offers in addition to theaddress. Thus, for example, advertising for motorcycles or formotorcycling events can be inserted in a targeted manner into thedelivery unit of a motorcycle enthusiast.

The device is set up in a control engineering manner such that thedelivery units in the device according to the invention are identifiableby the control apparatus. The creating and conveying of the deliveryunits in the device according to the invention is consequently affectedin a pulse-controlled manner. The delivery units are associated withindividual pulses, the control apparatus knowing at any time in whichpulse a certain delivery unit is precisely to be found. To this end, thecontrol apparatus creates, for example, a virtual pulse pattern of thedevice. This also allows for the correct addressing of the sheet suchthat the address on the sheet matches the address of the items of mailheld in the sheet.

The separating-into-singles unit is controlled or regulated in apreferred manner independently of the movement of the receiving unitsalong the collecting section and comprises, for example, a differentpulse to the receiving units. As in each case groups of mail aretransferred to the receiving units, the separating-into-singles device,as a rule, comprises a faster operating pulse than the receiving unitsalong the collecting section. The above-mentioned designs for thepulse-controlled or pulse-regulated operation of the device areapplicable in general to devices and methods which fall under thepresent claims, and are not limited to the exemplary embodiments shown.

The storage unit 48, 48.1, 48.2 has associated therewith in each case aseparating-into-singles apparatus 49 as well as a checking or controlunit 51. The items of mail 50 are removed individually from the stackformation at the separating-into-singles apparatus 49 and supplied tothe control unit 51. The address on the items of mail is checked at thecontrol unit 51 and compared to the data stored in the data memory 47.Whether the removed item of mail 50 has actually been separated into asingle and is located in the correct position in the sorting sequence,as filed in the data memory 47, is checked in particular. In addition,whether the recorded address matches the stored address data is alsochecked. The control unit 51 can include a camera system which recordsthe address data of the items of mail by means of an image-generatingmethod and converts it into digital address data by means ofcorresponding data processing software.

The control unit 51 does not forcibly need to be arranged in the regionof the separating-into-singles apparatus 49. It can also be arranged ata position arranged downstream in the processing direction, e.g. in theregion of the distributing unit 52.

In the embodiment according to FIG. 7, the separated-into-singles itemsof mail 50 are further conveyed to a distributing unit 52 after passingthe control unit 51. The distributing unit 52, which, for example, canbe a points system or can cooperate with such a points system, forwardsthe items of mail 50 to individual mail transfer stations 55 a . . . 55d which are arranged one behind another along the collecting section S.At the mail transfer stations 55 a . . . 55 d, the items of mail 50 aretransferred to the receiving units 41 by being deposited or insertedinto the receiving pockets of the sheets 1.2 which are situated in thereceiving units 41. To this end, the receiving units 41 are guided pastthe mail transfer stations 55 a . . . 55 d along the collecting sectionS. The conveying member which interacts with the receiving units 41 isdriven by means of the drive 44 which, in turn, is controlled by meansof the control apparatus 45.

The device is controlled then by means of the control apparatus 45 suchthat items of mail with the same recipient address are placed in acommon receiving unit 41 and items of mail with different addresses areplaced in different receiving units 41. This occurs, for example, as aresult of items of mail 50 with the same recipient address, whichaccording to pre-sorting pass the distributing unit 52 directly onebehind another, being allocated to adjacent mail transfer stations 55 a. . . 55 d. A receiving unit which is guided past the mail transferstations 55 a . . . 55 d, in a sequential sequence, then takes over allthe items of mail 50 with the same recipient address from the mailtransfer stations 55 a . . . 55 d which are arranged one behind anotherand collects them in the receiving pocket of the sheet 1.2. Adistributing unit with all the items of mail with the same recipientaddress is created in this way for a certain recipient address.

In the slightly modified embodiment according to FIG. 8, the items ofmail 50 are supplied by means of a distributing unit 52 to a storagesystem 53 with a plurality of individual intermediate stores 53 a . . .53 d. The device 40.2 is controlled by means of the control apparatus 45such that items of mail 50 with the same recipient address are allocatedto a common intermediate store 53 a . . . 53 d and items of mail 50 withdifferent addresses are allocated to different intermediate stores 53 a. . . 53 d.

In addition, the supplying apparatus 80 also includes a mail transferstation 55. The units of mail with the same recipient address which areformed in the intermediate stores 53 a . . . 53 d are conveyed furtherto the mail transfer station 55 in each case as a group by means of apoint 54 and from said mail transfer station are transferred to thereceiving units 41.

In a further embodiment according to FIG. 10, the items of mail 50 a, 50b are supplied via distributing units 52 to a storage system 53 with aplurality of individual intermediate stores 53 a . . . 53 d, similar tothe exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 8. The device 40.3 iscontrolled by means of the control apparatus 45 such that items of mail50 a, 50 b with the same recipient address are allocated to a commonintermediate store 53 a . . . 53 d and items of mail 50 a, 50 b withdifferent addresses are allocated to different intermediate stores 53 a. . . 53 d.

The present device 40.3 or the supplying apparatus 80 includes then adistributing apparatus 59 with a plurality of distributing units 52which are movable one behind another by means of a conveying member 61along a movement direction Fz around a circular path. The conveyingmember 61 can be, for example, a conveyor chain, to which thedistributing units 52 are connected.

During their movement along their circular path, the distributing units52 are guided past the two storage units 48.1, 48.2 and take thepreviously separated-into-singles items of mail 50 a, 50 b from thestorage units 48.1, 48.2. Each of the distributing units 52 takes ineach case an item of mail or, where applicable, several items of mailwith the same recipient address from the storage units 48.1, 48.2. Thedistributing units 52 convey the items of mail 50 a, 50 b to an outputposition. At the output position the items of mail 50 a, 50 b aretransferred from the distributing units 52 to the intermediate stores 53a . . . 53 d. Units of mail with the same recipient address are combinedin the intermediate stores 53 a . . . 53 d. The transfer of the items ofmail 50 a, 50 b from the distributing units 52 to the intermediatestores 53 a . . . 53 d can be affected in a different manner.

Thus, means can be provided which allow the items of mail 50 a, 50 b tobe supplied from the corresponding intermediate stores 53 a . . . 53 dto the distributing units 52 from a defined position along the circularpath. This type of transfer corresponds to a star-shaped distribution ofthe items of mail 50 a, 50 b from the distributing unit 52 to theintermediate stores 53 a . . . 53 d from a defined position. The meanscan include, for example, an intermediate conveyor with a points system.

It is also possible for the distributing units 52 to be guided past theintermediate stores 53 a . . . 53 d and for the items of mail 50 a, 50 bto be transferred to the corresponding intermediate stores 53 a . . . 53d as they move past.

The distributing apparatus 59 can also carry out a buffer function bythe distributing units 52 buffering the items of mail 50 a, 50 b untilthey are output to the intermediate stores 53 a . . . 53 d. The moredistributing units 52 the distributing apparatus 59 includes, thegreater the buffering effect.

The distributing units 52 of the distributing apparatus 59 are operatedat a higher processing speed than the receiving units 41 of thecollecting device. I.e. more product units per unit time are processedwith the distributing units 52 than with the receiving units 41.

In principle, the device 40.3 can also include more than two storageunits 48.1, 48.2. The distributing apparatus 59 or the number ofdistributing units 52 included in said distributing apparatus has to beadapted in a corresponding manner to the number of storage units 48.1,48.2.

In addition, the supplying apparatus 80 also includes a mail transferstation 55. The units of mail with the same recipient address which areformed in the intermediate stores 53 a . . . 53 d are in each caseconveyed further to the mail transfer station 55 as a group by means ofa point 54 and from said mail transfer station are transferred to thereceiving units 41.

As the units of mail 50, 50 a, 50 b with the same recipient addresses,according to the two embodiments according to FIGS. 8 and 10 in contrastto the embodiment according to FIG. 7, are already formed in theintermediate storage system 53 and not firstly in the receiving units,one single transfer station according to the present embodiment issufficient. The intermediate storage system 53, in this case, acts as asorting store in which the units of mail are held back until it is theirturn to be forwarded to the mail transfer station 55. The controlapparatus 45 is responsible for ensuring that merely fully createddelivery units of mail are forwarded to the mail transfer station 55.

As already mentioned, the advantage of the embodiments according toFIGS. 8 and 10 is that the supplying apparatus 80 manages, in principle,with one single mail transfer station 55 or at least with considerablyfewer mail transfer stations 55, e.g. with two of them, than is used inthe embodiment according to FIG. 7. As a result, for example, there ismore space available for further transfer stations, e.g. for supplyingnon-individualized advertising inserts. Otherwise, the collectingsection can also be shorter and the installation more compact.

Further transfer stations 42 a . . . 42 c, by means of which furtherindividualized or non-individualized, i.e. addressed or non-addressed,flat articles, such as advertising inserts, can be output, can bearranged, as already mentioned, prior to and/or following the mailtransfer stations 55, 55 a . . . 55 d for the mail.

In the three embodiments according to FIGS. 7, 8 and 10, transferstations 42 a . . . 42 c for advertising inserts are arranged along thecollecting section S following the mail transfer stations 55, 55 a . . .55 d for addressed items of mail. Once the items of mail 50, 50 a, 50 bhave been transferred into the receiving units 41, non-individualizedadvertising inserts are then inserted into the receiving pockets of thesheets 1.2 by means of the further transfer stations 42 a . . . 42 c,delivery units being realized with a partially folded sheet as well asitems of mail with the same recipient address and non-addressedadvertising inserts arranged in the receiving pocket thereof.

A printing apparatus 43, e.g. an ink jet printer, is arranged followingthe collecting section S or at the end of the collecting section S or inthe conveying-away apparatus 58 (both alternatives shown). The printingapparatus 43 includes an addressing station. The sheets 1.2, which,where applicable, are still guided in the receiving unit 41, areaddressed in the printing apparatus 43 or in the associated addressingstation. The address, in this case, corresponds with the address on theitems of mail lying in the receiving pocket of the sheets. In addition,advertising messages as well as further data such as, for example, thedelivery area or the delivery route, the name of the deliverer, etc. canalso be printed on the sheets. The printing apparatus can includefurther print stations for this purpose. In principle, the addressingunit can also be placed at another point in the device. The sheets 1.2can in particular also already be addressed prior to the collectingsection S or not until the delivery units are transferred to aconveying-away device. Thus, for example, a print unit 60 can beprovided in the region of the sheet feed to the crease-fold apparatus30. The distributing and transferring of the addressed items of mail tothe receiving units has to be coordinated in all cases by the controlapparatus with the addressing and transferring of the sheets to thereceiving units.

A delivery unit can therefore include one or several items of mail withthe same recipient address. It can also be provided that a delivery unitdoes not include any mail but purely advertising inserts. As the sheetis addressed in any case, a delivery unit does not forcibly have toinclude addressed items of mail. Thus, for example, it can be providedthat a delivery unit with at least advertising inserts is created inprinciple for each registered recipient in a delivery region or along adelivery route and this is irrespective of whether there is anyaddressed mail present for the individual recipient or not.

The supplying of the sheets 1.2 to the receiving units 41, thetransferring of the items of mail from the mail transfer station to thereceiving units 41 as well as the transferring of the advertisinginserts to the receiving units 41 runs, in a preferred manner, in-lineand in a pulse-synchronous manner with the movement of the receivingunits 41 through the collecting section. In a preferred manner, theprocessing of the sheets in the folding apparatus 30 as well as, whereapplicable, the separating-into-singles of the unfolded sheets from thestack out of the sheet intermediate store is in-line and pulse-related,in particular is synchronous with the pulse of the movement of thereceiving units 41.

FIGS. 9 a and 9 b show two embodiments of delivery units 70.1, 70.2. Thedelivery units 70.1, 70.2 include in each case a collection 71 ofseveral flat articles of the abovementioned type. The articles arepresent as a stack and are held by an enclosing unit 72.1, 72.2 in theform of a partially folded sheet. The partially folded sheet 72.1, 72.2comprises a bending line 74 which comprises a center part section 76,along which a fold line is arranged. The center part section 76 of thebending line is flanked on both sides in each case by a side partsection 75 a, 75 b, both of which extend as far as up to the side sheetedges. The side part sections 75 a, 75 b of the bending line 74 are notfolded. The sheet 72.1, 72.2 is divided into two sheet portions alongthe bending line 74. A recipient address 73 is printed on the outersurface of a sheet portion 78.1, 78.2. In addition, the sheet 72.1, 72.2is also utilized for the purpose of attaching advertising messages.Advertising messages 77.1 in the form of three-dimensionalrepresentations are printed on the sheet 72.1 or on an associated sheetportion 78.1 of a first delivery unit 70.1 according to FIG. 9 a.Advertising messages 77.2 in the form of multi-colored representationsare printed on the sheet 72.2 or on an associated sheet portion 78.2 ofa second delivery unit 70.2 according to FIG. 9 b.

1. A method for collecting flat articles in receiving units that aremoved along a circular path, and for further conveying the collectedarticles in the receiving units, wherein the receiving units comprise ineach case two supporting elements that are located opposite one anotherand form a receiving space, said method comprising the steps of:providing a flat, flexible enclosing unit that is weakened in part alonga bending line, and bending the enclosing unit along the bending line toprovide two enclosing portions that are separated from one another bythe bending line; inserting the bent enclosing unit into the receivingspace between the supporting elements; holding the enclosing portions ofthe enclosing unit in the receiving space on the adjacent supportingelements thus realizing a receiving pocket; supplying at least onearticle into the entrained receiving pocket of the bent enclosing unit;guiding the two enclosing portions toward one another.
 2. The method asclaimed in claim 1, wherein the receiving units are moved in a conveyingdirections along a closed conveying path and the articles are suppliedalong a collecting section one after another to the receiving units andare inserted into the receiving pockets of the enclosing units, thusforming a stack.
 3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein thereceiving units are grippers and the supporting elements are gripper legportions, and the gripper leg portions are movable in relation to oneanother between an open position, in which the enclosing unit held inthe receiving space forms a receiving pocket, and a closed position inwhich the enclosing portions are guided toward one another.
 4. Themethod as claimed in claim 3, further comprising the steps of: closingthe gripper once the collection of articles has been concluded andgripping the bent enclosing unit with the articles collected therein bygripper leg portions, and further conveying the articles held in theenclosing unit by the gripper.
 5. The method as claimed in claim 1,further comprising the step of: creating at least one weakening linealong a bending line in a folding apparatus, wherein the weakening lineis shorter than the bending line and extends only over a part section ofthe bending line.
 6. The method as claimed in claim 1, comprising thefurther step of: inserting the articles into the receiving pocket andplacing them onto an enclosing portion of the bent enclosing unit. 7.The method as claimed in claim 1, comprising the further step of:transferring the enclosing unit with the articles held therein to aconveying-away device and further folding of the enclosing unit alongthe bending line.
 8. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein theconveying-away device is a belt conveyor and the at least partiallyfolded enclosing units with the articles held therein are transferredinto a shingle stream.
 9. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein theenclosing unit comprises a bending line that extends between twoenclosing edges and the bending line comprises a plurality of partsections, wherein part sections with a weakening line and part sectionswithout a weakening line alternate in each case along the bending line.10. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein, following the enclosingportions being guided toward one another, the enclosing unit is closedvia at least one adhesive that connects the enclosing portions over partof their surface.
 11. A device for collecting flat articles and forfurther conveying the collected articles as a stack, said deviceincluding a plurality of receiving which units that are movable in aconveying direction along a closed conveying path that is defined by aconveying member, and which, for holding and supporting the collectedarticles, comprises in each case two supporting elements that aresituated opposite one another and realize a receiving space, wherein anapparatus for supplying an enclosing unit that is weakened in part alonga bending line and for pushing the enclosing unit into the receivingspace of the receiving unit that is moved along the conveying path,wherein the apparatus is capable of inserting the enclosing unit in thebent state into the receiving space.
 12. The device as claimed in claim11, further comprising a folding apparatus for the partial folding ofthe enclosing units prior to supplying the enclosing units into thereceiving units.
 13. The device as claimed in claim 11, wherein, atleast along a collecting section of the conveying path, the receivingunits define a contact face that is inclined in the conveying direction.14. The device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the receiving units arerealized as grippers and the supporting elements are realized as gripperleg portions that are movable in relation to one another between an openposition, in which the enclosing unit held in the receiving space formsa receiving pocket, and a closed position in which the enclosingportions are guided toward one another and the enclosing unit is held ina clamping manner.
 15. The device as claimed in claim 11, wherein theinclined contact face is realized at least in part by a lengthenedgripper leg portion.
 16. A delivery unit, including at least one flatarticle as well as a flat, flexible enclosing unit that is weakened inpart along a bending line and includes two enclosing portions that aredefined from one another along the bending line and form a receivingpocket.
 17. The delivery unit as claimed in claim 16, wherein theenclosing unit is provided with identification data.
 18. The deliveryunit as claimed in claim 16, wherein the enclosing unit includes aviewing window, through which it is possible to see identification datathat has been applied on an article of the collection or on a datacarrier that is provided separately and has been inserted into thereceiving pocket.
 19. The delivery unit as claimed in claim 16, whereinthe enclosing unit is closed in at least one edge region that does notinclude the bending line.